Adrien Poncet ⚔️ En Garde!
@ledrien.bsky.social
Game designer 🤠
⚔️ I made En Garde! the swashbuckler action game
http://bit.ly/EnGardeSteam
🔥 With Fireplace Games
⚔️ I made En Garde! the swashbuckler action game
http://bit.ly/EnGardeSteam
🔥 With Fireplace Games
Animated GIFs don't work on Bluesky? Some of the pictures in my thread were supposed to be moving... 😢
November 2, 2024 at 10:53 AM
Animated GIFs don't work on Bluesky? Some of the pictures in my thread were supposed to be moving... 😢
Now, you can re-read this whole thread and replace "Musketeer" with "Zorro" - it works too :D
November 1, 2024 at 8:57 PM
Now, you can re-read this whole thread and replace "Musketeer" with "Zorro" - it works too :D
Moreover, new generation of artists are rediscovering the works of Alexandre Dumas. Check out the Dumariolles collective's amazing work!
Maybe one day, some company will finally take a chance to make a proper musketeers video game adaptation. Let's just hope they'll get it right! 24/24
Maybe one day, some company will finally take a chance to make a proper musketeers video game adaptation. Let's just hope they'll get it right! 24/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:56 PM
Moreover, new generation of artists are rediscovering the works of Alexandre Dumas. Check out the Dumariolles collective's amazing work!
Maybe one day, some company will finally take a chance to make a proper musketeers video game adaptation. Let's just hope they'll get it right! 24/24
Maybe one day, some company will finally take a chance to make a proper musketeers video game adaptation. Let's just hope they'll get it right! 24/24
But who knows what the future holds?
There are still movies and TV series being made about the Musketeers, and some video games in adjacent settings (En Garde!, Greedfall, Assassin's Creed Unity...).
'Sacre Bleu' is a promising indie comedy platformer coming soon! 23/24
There are still movies and TV series being made about the Musketeers, and some video games in adjacent settings (En Garde!, Greedfall, Assassin's Creed Unity...).
'Sacre Bleu' is a promising indie comedy platformer coming soon! 23/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:56 PM
But who knows what the future holds?
There are still movies and TV series being made about the Musketeers, and some video games in adjacent settings (En Garde!, Greedfall, Assassin's Creed Unity...).
'Sacre Bleu' is a promising indie comedy platformer coming soon! 23/24
There are still movies and TV series being made about the Musketeers, and some video games in adjacent settings (En Garde!, Greedfall, Assassin's Creed Unity...).
'Sacre Bleu' is a promising indie comedy platformer coming soon! 23/24
Since video games tend to stick to mainstream, we do get some great pirate games!
Basically, captain Jack Sparrow killed any chance for d'Artagnan and the boys to star in their own video game. 22/24
Basically, captain Jack Sparrow killed any chance for d'Artagnan and the boys to star in their own video game. 22/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:55 PM
Since video games tend to stick to mainstream, we do get some great pirate games!
Basically, captain Jack Sparrow killed any chance for d'Artagnan and the boys to star in their own video game. 22/24
Basically, captain Jack Sparrow killed any chance for d'Artagnan and the boys to star in their own video game. 22/24
Pirate films had always been, initially, a sub-genre of swashbuckler. But in the 2000's, swashbuckling became synonym with pirates.
Pirates became the dominant genre, and in the process, overshadowed all the other old-fashioned fencers in tights. 21/24
Pirates became the dominant genre, and in the process, overshadowed all the other old-fashioned fencers in tights. 21/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:54 PM
Pirate films had always been, initially, a sub-genre of swashbuckler. But in the 2000's, swashbuckling became synonym with pirates.
Pirates became the dominant genre, and in the process, overshadowed all the other old-fashioned fencers in tights. 21/24
Pirates became the dominant genre, and in the process, overshadowed all the other old-fashioned fencers in tights. 21/24
According to its authors, The Curse of the Black Pearl was designed from the ground-up as a revival of the classic Swashbuckler formula, with added grittiness and fantastical elements thrown in.
It was a mega-hit, and made pirate stories mainstream again. 20/24
It was a mega-hit, and made pirate stories mainstream again. 20/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:54 PM
According to its authors, The Curse of the Black Pearl was designed from the ground-up as a revival of the classic Swashbuckler formula, with added grittiness and fantastical elements thrown in.
It was a mega-hit, and made pirate stories mainstream again. 20/24
It was a mega-hit, and made pirate stories mainstream again. 20/24
In the early 2000's, and despite Antonio Banderas' best efforts as Zorro, classic Swashbuckler films had fallen out of fashion.
This was until... 2003, when Pirates of the Caribbean came out!
Remember how kids described En Garde! as a "pirate game"? 19/24
This was until... 2003, when Pirates of the Caribbean came out!
Remember how kids described En Garde! as a "pirate game"? 19/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:53 PM
In the early 2000's, and despite Antonio Banderas' best efforts as Zorro, classic Swashbuckler films had fallen out of fashion.
This was until... 2003, when Pirates of the Caribbean came out!
Remember how kids described En Garde! as a "pirate game"? 19/24
This was until... 2003, when Pirates of the Caribbean came out!
Remember how kids described En Garde! as a "pirate game"? 19/24
Why none of these games ever gets made?
Well, my explanation is that popular video games tend to inspire from mainstream settings. Medieval fantasy, sci-fi, zombies, you name it.
And unfortunately for me, musketeers haven't been mainstream for... a while. 18/24
Well, my explanation is that popular video games tend to inspire from mainstream settings. Medieval fantasy, sci-fi, zombies, you name it.
And unfortunately for me, musketeers haven't been mainstream for... a while. 18/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:53 PM
Why none of these games ever gets made?
Well, my explanation is that popular video games tend to inspire from mainstream settings. Medieval fantasy, sci-fi, zombies, you name it.
And unfortunately for me, musketeers haven't been mainstream for... a while. 18/24
Well, my explanation is that popular video games tend to inspire from mainstream settings. Medieval fantasy, sci-fi, zombies, you name it.
And unfortunately for me, musketeers haven't been mainstream for... a while. 18/24
I've heard about several devs and studios having ideas for a musketeer game, here and there. In a blog post for Playstation, Brian Fleming from Suckerpunch told they considered musketeers as their next game setting, before going for feudal Japan with Ghost of Tsushima. 17/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:52 PM
I've heard about several devs and studios having ideas for a musketeer game, here and there. In a blog post for Playstation, Brian Fleming from Suckerpunch told they considered musketeers as their next game setting, before going for feudal Japan with Ghost of Tsushima. 17/24
So, there's still no proper musketeer game then. En Garde! isn't one. Why isn't anyone else doing it? I've been wondering for years.
Apart from a bunch of obscure abandonware, it's still an unexplored setting. 16/24
Apart from a bunch of obscure abandonware, it's still an unexplored setting. 16/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:52 PM
So, there's still no proper musketeer game then. En Garde! isn't one. Why isn't anyone else doing it? I've been wondering for years.
Apart from a bunch of obscure abandonware, it's still an unexplored setting. 16/24
Apart from a bunch of obscure abandonware, it's still an unexplored setting. 16/24
En Garde! was made as a melting pot of references. Older generations will "get" the nostalgic swashbuckler feel.
Some younger players have described it as a pirate game - which is fine too!
It also came out right during the Puss in Boots hype 🐱 (Art by @casynuf.bsky.social) 15/24
Some younger players have described it as a pirate game - which is fine too!
It also came out right during the Puss in Boots hype 🐱 (Art by @casynuf.bsky.social) 15/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:52 PM
En Garde! was made as a melting pot of references. Older generations will "get" the nostalgic swashbuckler feel.
Some younger players have described it as a pirate game - which is fine too!
It also came out right during the Puss in Boots hype 🐱 (Art by @casynuf.bsky.social) 15/24
Some younger players have described it as a pirate game - which is fine too!
It also came out right during the Puss in Boots hype 🐱 (Art by @casynuf.bsky.social) 15/24
Initially, I barely knew about all this, I only had some clichés in mind - sword fights, feathered hats, swinging chandeliers... But that's what works so well about En Garde!' concept. You don't need to know. The swashbuckler tropes are rooted in popular imagination. 14/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:51 PM
Initially, I barely knew about all this, I only had some clichés in mind - sword fights, feathered hats, swinging chandeliers... But that's what works so well about En Garde!' concept. You don't need to know. The swashbuckler tropes are rooted in popular imagination. 14/24
We loved the hispanic flair, and the Golden Age Spain setting also felt more original to us than doing French Musketeers - which is ironic, considering my initial thought on the lack of Musketeer video games. 13/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:51 PM
We loved the hispanic flair, and the Golden Age Spain setting also felt more original to us than doing French Musketeers - which is ironic, considering my initial thought on the lack of Musketeer video games. 13/24
With En Garde!, we wanted to pay homage to the swashbuckler genre as a whole. We chose to set the game in 17th century Spain, because the genre initially came from here ("comedia de capa y espada" were theater plays from that period). 12/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:50 PM
With En Garde!, we wanted to pay homage to the swashbuckler genre as a whole. We chose to set the game in 17th century Spain, because the genre initially came from here ("comedia de capa y espada" were theater plays from that period). 12/24
I also realized some of my favorite video games could arguably qualify as "swashbuckling" experiences - Uncharted (as described by @amyhennig.bsky.social herself), Assassin's Creed Black Flag...
But none of them actually recreated the "classic" definition of swashbuckler. 11/24
But none of them actually recreated the "classic" definition of swashbuckler. 11/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:50 PM
I also realized some of my favorite video games could arguably qualify as "swashbuckling" experiences - Uncharted (as described by @amyhennig.bsky.social herself), Assassin's Creed Black Flag...
But none of them actually recreated the "classic" definition of swashbuckler. 11/24
But none of them actually recreated the "classic" definition of swashbuckler. 11/24
Several Disney/Dreamworks films draw from swashbuckler tropes too. En Garde! owes a lot of its light-hearted tone and comedy to it.
Aladdin checks most of the boxes. Flynn Rider from Tangled is a typical swashbuckler protagonist, and an hommage to actor Errol Flynn. 10/24
Aladdin checks most of the boxes. Flynn Rider from Tangled is a typical swashbuckler protagonist, and an hommage to actor Errol Flynn. 10/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:49 PM
Several Disney/Dreamworks films draw from swashbuckler tropes too. En Garde! owes a lot of its light-hearted tone and comedy to it.
Aladdin checks most of the boxes. Flynn Rider from Tangled is a typical swashbuckler protagonist, and an hommage to actor Errol Flynn. 10/24
Aladdin checks most of the boxes. Flynn Rider from Tangled is a typical swashbuckler protagonist, and an hommage to actor Errol Flynn. 10/24
Then, the tropes and "vibes" of the genre expanded and evolved into other things. Indiana Jones was described as a swashbuckler by Lucas and Spielberg. Guardians of the Galaxy is swashbuckling in space. 9/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:48 PM
Then, the tropes and "vibes" of the genre expanded and evolved into other things. Indiana Jones was described as a swashbuckler by Lucas and Spielberg. Guardians of the Galaxy is swashbuckling in space. 9/24
During Hollywood golden age, Swashbucklers shared the spotlight with Westerns. The Three Musketeers alone has more than 50 film and TV adaptations listed on Wikipedia. 8/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:48 PM
During Hollywood golden age, Swashbucklers shared the spotlight with Westerns. The Three Musketeers alone has more than 50 film and TV adaptations listed on Wikipedia. 8/24
In classic literature and cinema, swashbuckler was big. The Three Musketeers, Robin Hood, Zorro, The Princess Bride, basically every pirate story, and many others, nowadays forgotten. 7/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:48 PM
In classic literature and cinema, swashbuckler was big. The Three Musketeers, Robin Hood, Zorro, The Princess Bride, basically every pirate story, and many others, nowadays forgotten. 7/24
The french term (de cape et d'épée) interestingly morphed into "cloak and dagger" in english. Cloak and dagger stories are more about espionage, which is also sometimes a component of Swashbuckler. 6/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:48 PM
The french term (de cape et d'épée) interestingly morphed into "cloak and dagger" in english. Cloak and dagger stories are more about espionage, which is also sometimes a component of Swashbuckler. 6/24
It's also a very french genre. We call it de cape et d'épée - "of cape and sword". We have our own classics.
In french, the name implies less "pirate adventures" and more "dueling noblemen".
It's also seen as old school, even more so than in english. 5/24
In french, the name implies less "pirate adventures" and more "dueling noblemen".
It's also seen as old school, even more so than in english. 5/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:47 PM
It's also a very french genre. We call it de cape et d'épée - "of cape and sword". We have our own classics.
In french, the name implies less "pirate adventures" and more "dueling noblemen".
It's also seen as old school, even more so than in english. 5/24
In french, the name implies less "pirate adventures" and more "dueling noblemen".
It's also seen as old school, even more so than in english. 5/24
Swashbuckler was a subgenre of historical fiction, with adventure, romance and intrigue galore, featuring sword fights between charming scoundrels, damsels in distress and mustache-twirling villains.
Basically all of my favorite things in the world! 4/24
Basically all of my favorite things in the world! 4/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:47 PM
Swashbuckler was a subgenre of historical fiction, with adventure, romance and intrigue galore, featuring sword fights between charming scoundrels, damsels in distress and mustache-twirling villains.
Basically all of my favorite things in the world! 4/24
Basically all of my favorite things in the world! 4/24
What caused that shift of focus for En Garde? Well, when I was doing research for the game's concept, I quickly stopped looking at Alexandre Dumas' musketeers only, as I digged into the rich legacy of the Swashbuckler genre. 3/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:47 PM
What caused that shift of focus for En Garde? Well, when I was doing research for the game's concept, I quickly stopped looking at Alexandre Dumas' musketeers only, as I digged into the rich legacy of the Swashbuckler genre. 3/24
In 2024, there STILL isn't any musketeer game.
Because En Garde! is not a proper "musketeer" game in the end. It doesn't star a crew of french braggart noblemen. We set the action in Spain, and our protagonist is a vigilante, closer to Zorro than to d'Artagnan. 2/24
Because En Garde! is not a proper "musketeer" game in the end. It doesn't star a crew of french braggart noblemen. We set the action in Spain, and our protagonist is a vigilante, closer to Zorro than to d'Artagnan. 2/24
November 1, 2024 at 8:46 PM
In 2024, there STILL isn't any musketeer game.
Because En Garde! is not a proper "musketeer" game in the end. It doesn't star a crew of french braggart noblemen. We set the action in Spain, and our protagonist is a vigilante, closer to Zorro than to d'Artagnan. 2/24
Because En Garde! is not a proper "musketeer" game in the end. It doesn't star a crew of french braggart noblemen. We set the action in Spain, and our protagonist is a vigilante, closer to Zorro than to d'Artagnan. 2/24